Eli Manning purposely kept a low profile Sunday in Tampa in the NFL starting debut of Daniel Jones, except where he was needed most.
Manning did not come out to throw in the early warm-up session. He did not come out to midfield with the other six team captains for the coin toss. After the game, he showered, dressed and was gone from the locker room before the media entered. Manning’s reaction to all things Jones was a story, a tale Manning decided he would not contribute to on this day.
Yet on the field, Manning was right there, helping Jones at every break in the action, and afterward, Manning was there to offer a hug and smile for the rookie.
“It’s a start to something new,’’ receiver Russell Shepard said. “It’s no knock on our previous quarterback. Eli did a great job this week preparing Daniel, sat right next to him in meetings, was able to give him hints, kind of a second pair of eyes for him.’’
As long as there are no hard feelings from Manning, coach Pat Shurmur has set up the ideal scenario for Jones.
“Actually it was a really good situation for Daniel,’’ Shurmur said. “Can you imagine being in your first start and sitting next to a guy that’s done it for over 15 years and done it at a very high level? That had to be very reassuring for Dan.’’
Tight end Evan Engram called Manning “a big soundboard for Daniel’’ throughout the 32-31, Giants’ comeback victory.
“Eli has been through pretty much everything, and he was a big help for Daniel through the good and bad,’’ Engram said.
In addition to the huge injury to Saquon Barkley, the Giants came out of Tampa with LB Alec Ogletree sustaining a strained hamstring, LB Tae Davis in the concussion protocol and WR Russell Shepard with a sprained foot.
The Giants allowed 28 points in the first half and only three in the second half, yet there was no major change in how the defense lined up.
“I think it was the sense of urgency,’’ safety Antoine Bethea said. “I think it’s crazy that it was the same guys out there, but it was two completely different halves. I think we came out in the second half with a completely different sense of urgency. It was just tighter coverage and guys were doing their job a little bit more.’’